Blue-ribbon appeal: County fair looking for a few good apple pies

GREENFIELD — Helen Gould of Gould’s Farm and Restaurant in Shelburne will again supervise the apple pie contest at the 165th Franklin County Fair.

Gould is trying to round up more entries to place the contest in the forefront of the fair, and will hold it in the gazebo just to the right of the fair’s Tower Gates on Saturday. The fair begins Thursday night.

She said, “there is no pre-entry required, as the pie you enter, with its recipe and your address, is your admission to the fair that day.”

She pointed to a quote from The Recorder, that in an article on the history of the fair of 1848, it said, “the fair showed the skill of baking of the best apple pie.”

“With a history like that,” she said, “it’s one of those 165 reasons to go to the fair, like our theme says. It’s a tradition that is still going strong, and needs to be continued.”

“Last year, we had 33 pies entered,” she said, “and we hope for a few more this year. It is always a fun contest for the many good pie makers in the county.”

Last year’s winner was Linda Herrera of Shelburne with Florence Holewa of Turners Falls, second, and Annette Phelps of Bernardston, third, while the junior winner was Sarah Wyngowski of Bernardston.

There are two divisions, one for adults and one for those 12 and younger, and there are four prizes in each division.

Those making pies for the contest should have them at the fairgrounds between 8:15 and 8:45 a.m., Saturday, and the judging will begin at 9. When the contest is over, any pies that are not picked up by the owners, will be given to the Salvation Army for its meals program.

The contest is open to both women and men, and, she noted, men have also won prizes in the past.